CC Sabathia posts iconic NSFW celebration tweet after Yankees’ AL East clinch

The New York Yankees emphatically responded to their doubters on Tuesday night with the final touches on an American League East-winning season — and, OK, fine. Some of those doubters resided within the 718 area code.

This is just the first step of the way for the Yankees, of course, who are getting healthy and rounding into form while watching Aaron Judge stay true to himself and mash singles/take walks. Just because this wasn’t a World Series championship, though, does not mean the Yankees can’t celebrate. After all, this is only their second AL East title since 2012, and it came with a fair bit of turmoil attached.

On July 9, following a difficult loss at Fenway Park, the Bombers held a 15.5-game lead over the Tampa Bay Rays and 16.5-game advantage over the Toronto Blue Jays. By Aug. 1, it was down to 12 over Toronto, while holding steady at 15 over Tampa.

By Sept. 9? 3.5 over the Rays and 5 over the Jays. The Yanks’ two competitors hadn’t even gotten terribly hot. The Bombers were just that bad, and the boo birds were out in full force (and the criticism was coming from their own backyard).

But can this team flip a switch, or can this team flip a switch?! A September surge no one saw coming — which started against the red-hot Rays, with the lineup fully decimated — led to an AL East clinch Tuesday night with eight games left to go. With Tampa in the rear view and Toronto officially eliminated in Vlad’s house, CC Sabathia brought back pleasant memories from 2018 (on the four-year anniversary of the moment!) by employing his catch phrase for a different purpose.

Yankees ace CC Sabathia wants to know what happened to the slump?!

Initially, that phrase became a rallying cry after Sabathia went after Rays catcher Jesus Sucre in a game the Yankees led 11-0. The left-hander was sticking up for his guys after Tampa Bay reliever Andrew Kittredge buzzed the tower on Austin Romine (never forget, the valiant Stable of Guys actually started the head-hunting nonsense). He knew an ejection was coming. He knew he might miss out on $500,000 worth of incentives. He didn’t care (and the team, generously, paid him back).

Now, Sabathia’s latest “bit**” was directed at all those who believed the Yankees couldn’t work their way out of the rut they’d fallen into from early-August on. Instead, the team got healthier, regenerated, and crossed the clinch finish line on a tear.

Next step, October, where the Yankees will be well-rested and starting the ALDS at home after a Wild Card round bye. Hoodie weather and an October chill in the air? That’s most definitely for us, bit**.

Michael Kay owns Blue Jays, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. after Yankees AL East clinch

New York Yankees broadcaster Michael Kay absolutely buried the Toronto Blue Jays and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. after the Bombers' AL East clinch.